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Modernization Theory
Chapter · January 2010
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,Modernization Theory
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International
Studies
Modernization Theory
Prateek Goorha
Print Publication Date: Mar 2010 Subject: International Relations Theory
Online Publication Date: Dec 2017 DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.266
Summary and Keywords
Modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of
societies. There are two levels of analysis in classical modernization theory: the
microcosmic evaluations of modernization, which focuses on the componential elements
of social modernization; and the macrocosmic studies of modernization focused on the
empirical trajectories and manifest processes of the modernization of nations and their
societies, economies, and polities. However, there are two key sources of problems with
classical modernization theory. The first is the determinism implied in the logic of
modernization, while the second relates to the specific development patterns that
modernization theory must contend with. A contemporary theory on modernization
relates structural change at a higher level of analysis to instrumental action at a lower
level of analysis, doing so within a stochastic framework rather than the deterministic
one that classical modernization theory implied. In addition, the refocused attention of
social scientists on the process of development has led to a renewed interest in the
characterization of the relationship between economic development and democratization.
The transformation of knowledge into economic development can be examined by looking
at the weightless economy—a collection of “weightless” knowledge products such as
software, the Internet, and electronic databases. It is closely connected to a weightless
political concept called the credible polity, which is a government that creates institutions
that credibly protect property rights and are also transparent in their functioning to all
members of its society.
Keywords: modernization theory, classical modernization theory, contemporary modernization theory, economic
development, democratization, weightless economy, credible polity, social modernization
Introduction
Page 1 of 25
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date: 22 October 2018
, Modernization Theory
Fundamentally, modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the
development of societies. Given the complexity that arises from tracing the
multidimensional development of social processes, the goal of discovering a single
definitive social theory of evolution is perhaps the most ambitious research goal in all of
social science. It is therefore unsurprising that, with the benefit of hindsight that is
advantaged by cumulative research, we find classical modernization theory unsatisfactory
due to its Western bias, capitalist ideological underpinnings, and an overall social
Darwinism in its logic. Most troubling, though, is that it displays a poor understanding of
the socioeconomic development process, especially when it comes to issues such as
economic sustainability, political freedoms, and social emancipation. Empirically, too, the
logic of classical modernization theory has been shown to be unsophisticated at best and
expressly erroneous at worst. So there is a strong case to be made for arguing that, in
fact, modernization theory is extinct and hardly deserves an essay devoted to it in this
compendium.
However, this essay looks ahead and suggests a considered methodical resuscitation of
social evolution theory – a new modernization theory that attempts at providing a social-
scientific metastructure within which the constituent development processes relevant to
sociologists, political theorists, and economists all form contributory substructures. As
such, it suggests salvaging not the message, but rather the spirit of classical
modernization theory, which attempted a single conjoint explanation for social
development processes, democratization, and economic growth.
This essay consequently requires the reader to be ready for a distinct change of gears
from the survey it presents of modernization theory in its classical form to the basis for a
research program it proposes for continuing research into a modernization theory for the
future. The suggested approach is based on social choice theory and more recent insights
gained from political and economic development theory. It is meant to be accessible to
any social scientist with an interest in this area. It is presented as one possible and
exciting way forward and as a call for addressing key weaknesses in classical
modernization theory by using a tractable formal structure that remains true to the
eclectic social scientific research that classical modernization theory spawned, and not to
introduce needless overformalization.
Page 2 of 25
PRINTED FROM the OXFORD RESEARCH ENCYCLOPEDIA, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (internationalstudies.oxfordre.com).
(c) Oxford University Press USA, 2017. All Rights Reserved. Personal use only; commercial use is strictly prohibited (for
details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).
date: 22 October 2018
Modernization Theory
Chapter · January 2010
CITATIONS READS
11 131,344
1 author:
Prateek Goorha
44 PUBLICATIONS 183 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE
All content following this page was uploaded by Prateek Goorha on 22 October 2018.
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.
,Modernization Theory
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of International
Studies
Modernization Theory
Prateek Goorha
Print Publication Date: Mar 2010 Subject: International Relations Theory
Online Publication Date: Dec 2017 DOI: 10.1093/acrefore/9780190846626.013.266
Summary and Keywords
Modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the development of
societies. There are two levels of analysis in classical modernization theory: the
microcosmic evaluations of modernization, which focuses on the componential elements
of social modernization; and the macrocosmic studies of modernization focused on the
empirical trajectories and manifest processes of the modernization of nations and their
societies, economies, and polities. However, there are two key sources of problems with
classical modernization theory. The first is the determinism implied in the logic of
modernization, while the second relates to the specific development patterns that
modernization theory must contend with. A contemporary theory on modernization
relates structural change at a higher level of analysis to instrumental action at a lower
level of analysis, doing so within a stochastic framework rather than the deterministic
one that classical modernization theory implied. In addition, the refocused attention of
social scientists on the process of development has led to a renewed interest in the
characterization of the relationship between economic development and democratization.
The transformation of knowledge into economic development can be examined by looking
at the weightless economy—a collection of “weightless” knowledge products such as
software, the Internet, and electronic databases. It is closely connected to a weightless
political concept called the credible polity, which is a government that creates institutions
that credibly protect property rights and are also transparent in their functioning to all
members of its society.
Keywords: modernization theory, classical modernization theory, contemporary modernization theory, economic
development, democratization, weightless economy, credible polity, social modernization
Introduction
Page 1 of 25
PRINTED FROM the OXFORD RESEARCH ENCYCLOPEDIA, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (internationalstudies.oxfordre.com).
(c) Oxford University Press USA, 2017. All Rights Reserved. Personal use only; commercial use is strictly prohibited (for
details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).
date: 22 October 2018
, Modernization Theory
Fundamentally, modernization theory studies the process of social evolution and the
development of societies. Given the complexity that arises from tracing the
multidimensional development of social processes, the goal of discovering a single
definitive social theory of evolution is perhaps the most ambitious research goal in all of
social science. It is therefore unsurprising that, with the benefit of hindsight that is
advantaged by cumulative research, we find classical modernization theory unsatisfactory
due to its Western bias, capitalist ideological underpinnings, and an overall social
Darwinism in its logic. Most troubling, though, is that it displays a poor understanding of
the socioeconomic development process, especially when it comes to issues such as
economic sustainability, political freedoms, and social emancipation. Empirically, too, the
logic of classical modernization theory has been shown to be unsophisticated at best and
expressly erroneous at worst. So there is a strong case to be made for arguing that, in
fact, modernization theory is extinct and hardly deserves an essay devoted to it in this
compendium.
However, this essay looks ahead and suggests a considered methodical resuscitation of
social evolution theory – a new modernization theory that attempts at providing a social-
scientific metastructure within which the constituent development processes relevant to
sociologists, political theorists, and economists all form contributory substructures. As
such, it suggests salvaging not the message, but rather the spirit of classical
modernization theory, which attempted a single conjoint explanation for social
development processes, democratization, and economic growth.
This essay consequently requires the reader to be ready for a distinct change of gears
from the survey it presents of modernization theory in its classical form to the basis for a
research program it proposes for continuing research into a modernization theory for the
future. The suggested approach is based on social choice theory and more recent insights
gained from political and economic development theory. It is meant to be accessible to
any social scientist with an interest in this area. It is presented as one possible and
exciting way forward and as a call for addressing key weaknesses in classical
modernization theory by using a tractable formal structure that remains true to the
eclectic social scientific research that classical modernization theory spawned, and not to
introduce needless overformalization.
Page 2 of 25
PRINTED FROM the OXFORD RESEARCH ENCYCLOPEDIA, INTERNATIONAL STUDIES (internationalstudies.oxfordre.com).
(c) Oxford University Press USA, 2017. All Rights Reserved. Personal use only; commercial use is strictly prohibited (for
details see Privacy Policy and Legal Notice).
date: 22 October 2018
